Acetylene-gas generator.



i H. E. HENWOOD,

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1,1912. RENEWED MAR. 1.1914.

1,246,266. 7 Patented Ndv. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

affar'negz nuentrk H. mzuwooo. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 1, I912. RENEWED MAR. 7.1914.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ACETYLENE 6A6 GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. 1912. RENEWED MAR- 7, 1914.

1,246,266. Patented m. 13,1917.

umrnn STATES HORACE E. HENWOOD, OF NEW YORK, Y.

aonrvnnnnrens GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 1, 1912, Serial 110.674.,648. Renewed March 7, 1914. Serial no. 323,245.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, Homer: E. HENwooD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene- Gas Generators, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact'description.

This invention relates to acetylene generators of the automaticgravity I'eed'itype for use withthe smaller sizesof'carbid;

The objects of the invention are tosimplify, improve and cheapen the cost of production of such generators,1at the same time to increase the efliciency, to provide an improved carbid'filling means in conjunction with a feed device and diaphragm for controlling the same, and to assure the stability of the gas pressure, in order to prevent fiuctuations of the light, by means of improved constructions of the feed device and guiding means therefor.

The scope of my invention will be pointed out in the claims. j p

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved generator with a portion broken away.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the carbid chamber.

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the filling'device with the closure top removed.

Fig. alis a crosssection on line 4-4 Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with a guide in section of a modified form of feed device.

Fig. 6 is a view similarto Fig. 5, showing a still further modified form of feed device.

Fig. 7 is a view similar toFigs. 5 and 6 of a feed device, having a different conformation from those of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation similar to Flgs.

5 and 6 and 7 of a feed device provided with lateral grooves. I

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig; Swith feed devices provided with'oblique grooves.

As shown in Fig. ,1, 1 is the body of the generator adapted to contain the water, and

it is provided with a depending skirt 2 inclosing the slanting bottom 3. At the apex of the slanting bottom 3 I secure by a removable nut the pipe 4: leading to the valve 5. At the side of the casing, or chamber, I provide a water gage 6,' and preferably on the opposite sidea water receiving hopper 7, whichmay be connected by a 'fiexibletube 8 with the inlet 9 for the valve. In order to tacle.

fill the container with water the flexible tube Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

is fastened in place, and water'poured into the receiving hopper until the desired level is found to be reached. Then the valve jis closed. 7 6

Above the Water container 1 is. a chamber 9 for the carbld, having a conical or hopper bottom terminating in an aperture for thefeed of the carbid In the bottom-I insert pipes 10 leading preferably from the'an'gles formed by the slanting walls and sides withinthe water chamber, such pipes 10 leading downwardly within the carbid chamber toward its center. These pipes are embodiments of means other than the. feed aperture for conducting the gas from the water chamber through the conical bottom of the carbid receptacle into the interior of the'lat ter at points adjacent its lowest portion, so that the gas receives the benefit of the maxi mum drying action in passing through the Y carbid, Without, however, slaking the carbid immediately adjacent the feed aperture and feed device cooperating therewith.

I have shown the feed aperture as formed A in a separate bushing 11 threaded into a circular central flange of the sheet metal portion ofthe bottom of the carbid recep- With the'feed aperture is associated a sleeve or guide extension 13, having lateral ports for the passage of the carbid.

This guide is shown as united with the bushing 11 and therefore carried by the bot-tom of the carbid receptacle. In the present instance the guide extension projects clownward from the bottom, so as to hold the feed device (hereinafter described) central when depressed so that its tapered portion stands within the feed aperture. In the normal non-feeding position a cylindrical end 14' of a feed plug'occupies a position as shown in Fig. Qwithin the orifice of the bushing. The feed plug'shown inFig. 2 is provided with a conical portion 15 and is carried atthe end of a rod or shaft ;16. The rod 16 is secured at its upper'end bymeans of a threaded bushing 17 with a filling head 18 provided with feed orifices 19, on each side of. the rod, and a center orifice 20 connecting therewith, normally covered and protected and closedby a thumb nut The fillinghead is connected-withthe carbid chamber or upperwalls of' the generator by an annular diaphragm-22 fastened to the bottom of the filling head by aring plate 23, and securing screws 24:, and

to the carbid container by screws 25 secured to an inwardly turned flange 26 of thecarbid container, such flange beingof material width to permit the securing of the gage pipe 27 and the outlet pipe 28 tothe upper part of the container. A circular dome like structure-28 is also secured to the inturned flange, and it is provided with a central opening through which the head may project and reciprocate, but through which it may not be projected due to a beaded skirt 29 at the bottom of the carbid charging head. i

Projecting arms 39 on the carbid headare connected by springs 31 to the flanges 32 between thecarbid container and the water receptacle, where they are secured by bolts The outlet pipe 3elmay lead from the top of the carbidreceptacle, which outlet may be surmounted by a safety valve 35 of any construction... I have shown it as consisting of a piston 36 and the spring 37, encircling it within a. cylindrical shell 38 so that upon the upward motion of the piston the orifice 39 will be uncovered to reduce the pressure. A hand rod -10 may be provided to test the working condition of the valve, and to open the valve by hand to let the gas escape from the generator into the open air outside the building instead of intovthe room when recharging the carbid hopper.

As shown in Fig. 2, the feed plug has a generalconical configuration, and is there shown with a. straight cylindrical closure part, and a plain conical upper part. This form of plug is claimed specifically in my copending application, Serial No. 823,2el7, filed February 1, 1912.

The various forms of feed plug,it will be observed, possess cylindrical lower or closure portions and upwardly tapering feeding portions. W hen the latter portions are interrupted or tapered in gradations, as in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, for example, the feed of the carbid is moreeven and fluctuations in the gas pressure are less than when smooth or substantially continuous sides are used, as in Figs. 2 and 7. Particularly good results are obtained with constructions such as shown in Figs. 5 and 8,wherein the tapered portions present a series of comparatively abrupt shoulders to the descending carbid. In acetylene generators it is very difficult to obtain an automatic control which avoids fluctuation in the light secured, and the design of the feed plug therefore becomes of substantial importance. As shown in Fig. 5, conical upper portion I may provide a seriesof cylinders ll above the closure cylinder e2, diminishing in diameter until they reach the rod to which the closure plug is secured.

instead of the plain In Fig. 6, in addition to the closure cylinder-43 I have shown instead of a plain conical upper portion a series of different diameter rings 44, each having concave sides,

their diameters reducing until they reach their supporting rod.

InFig. 7 in addition to the cylindrical" closure 45, instead of the conical portion of the plug, I may form the portion between the closure cylinder sides, concave and of the same diameter desired at the rodasat the cylinder.

InFigPS, in addition to the cylinder 46, I may, provide a series of grooves 47 on the conical portion of the plug, such.- grooves being shown as horizontal. 4

In Fig. 9, in addition to the cylindrical closure portionS-I may form theconical feeding portion w-ithoblique grooves 50, all for thejpurpose hereinafter described.

In operation, after water has been placed in the lower chamber and carbid in the upper, and the thumb screwfor the. carbid and the rod with smooth feeding head fastened-down, the side springs will tend to lower the charging head and its diaphragm and thereby move the cylindri cal-gclosure plug of whatever type may be usedbelow theorifice at the bottom ofthe carbidchamber, thus causing the carbid to pass out and through the ports in the guide in a line continuous stream,.generating gas, which will pass through the pipes in the bottom wall of the carbid receptacle, through the carbid and create a pressure until such pressure is suflic ient to expand and raise the diaphragm to cut off the further feed of the carbid. Upon the use of the gas the pressure will bedepleted, and the feed plug again dropped, thus automatr,

cally keeping up the supply preventing undue fluctuation. p p

In carrying out this invention, details of construction may be varied from those shown, and yet the essence of the invention be retained; some parts might be employed without others, and new 1 features thereof might-be combined withelements old in the art in diverse ways, although the herein described type is regarded as embodying substantial improvements over suchmodifications. 7

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently of gas, and

widely diflerent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying: drawings shall be interpreted in an illustrative'and not in a limiting sense. i

It is furthermore. desired to be understood that thelanguage used in the following claims intended to cover all the generic andspecific-features of the invention hereof the invention which as a matter of language might be said to falltherebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an acetylene'gas generator the water chamber, the carbid receptacle, a conical bottom for the carbid receptacle forming the top of the water chamber, a feeding plug at the center of said conical bottom, tubing to admit gas to the carbid receptacle to a point adjacent to said feeding plug, a shaft for said feeding plug, a filling head secured to the shaft and a diaphragm securing said filling head to the receptacle.

In an acetylene gas generator having a filling head, and a diaphragm, a carbid receptacle to which the diaphragm is also secured, a water chamber below the carbid receptacle, a conical bottom for the carbid receptacle and openings therethrough for the passage of gas, a shaft secured to said filling head and having a feed plug in part cylindrical and in part of general conical shape, a bushing for the feed plug having a central aperture and a guide projecting into the water chamber having side ports in its wall.

In an acetylene gas generator, havin a carbid receptacle, a water chamber below t e carbid receptacle, a conical bottom for the carbid receptacle, a shaft and means for reciprocating said shaft, a feed plug in part cylindrical and in part shape, a bushing for the central aperture and a ports in its wall.

at. in an acetylene gas generator, having a carbid receptacle, a water chamber below the carbid receptacle, a conical bottom for the carbid receptacle, a shaft and means for reciprocating said shaft, a feed plug in part cylindrical and in part of general conical shape, a bushing for the feed plug having a central aperture and a guide having side ports in its wall, said guide projecting into the water chamber.

5. In an acetylene gas generator, a carbid receptacle, a water chamber and means for feeding the carbid, a diaphragm controlling said means, a filling head carried by the diaphragm having a closure cap.

6. in an acetylene gas generator, a carbid receptacle, a water chamber and means for feeding the carbid, a diaphragm controlling said means, a filling head carried by the diaphragm having a closure cap, said filling head serving to connect the feeding means and the diaphragm.

'7. In an acetylene generator having a carbid receptacle having an aperture in its bottom, a water chamber below the carbid receptacle, a reciprocating head, a flexible diaphragm connecting said head to the carbid receptacle, a shaft connected to the reciprocating head, a feed plug in part cylindrical feed plug having a guide having side of general conical and in part of a general conical shape connected to said shaft-and controlling the aper-v ture in the, bottom of the carbld receptacle,

and a. guide extension 10f said aperture havlug side ports in its wall.

8 in an acetylene generator, a water reservoir, a carbid receptacle above the water central aperture in the bottom,

reservoir of the ca- 1d receptacle, a feed plug operating insald ap head secured to said shaft, a means for controlling the reciprocating head, a flexible diaphragm securing said head to the carbid receptacle, said head having passages through it for charging the carbid receptacle with carbid, and a closure stopper. for said passages.

9. In an acetylene generator, a water reservoir, a carbid receptacle, a central aperture in the bottom of the said receptacle, a reciprocating shaft controlling said feed plug, a reciprocating head secured to said shaft, a means for controlling said head, a flexible diaphragm securing the reciprocating head to the carbid receptacle, and a means for charging the carbid receptacle with carbid through a central orifice of the flexible diaphragm.

10. An acetylene generator having a carbid receptacle, a water reservoir below the carbid receptacle, a feed plug controlling the passage of carbid from the carbid receptacle to the water reservoir, an upwardly extending shaft connected to said feed plug, a diaphragm, and a filling head mounted in the central part of the diaphragm, connected to the upper part of said shaft and accessible at the top of the receptacle.

11. An acetylene generator having a carbid receptacle, a water reservoir below the carbid receptacle, a feed plug controlling the passage of carbid from the carbid receptacle to the water reservoir, an upwardly-extending shaft connected to said feed plug, a filling head connected to the upper part of said shaft and operating through the top of the receptacle, and a diaphragm connected with the head. 1

12. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a carbid receptacle, a water reservoir, a feed plu a filling head connected with the feed plug and reciprocating in an opening in the top of the generator, and a diaphragm connected with the head.

13. In an acetylene generator, a Water rture, a reciprocating shaft controlling said feed plug, a reciprocating chamber, a carbid receptacle having a conical bottom terminatin in a feed aperture a diaphragm, a vertically movable feed plug connected with the diaphragm and having a lower cylindrical portion joining an upwardly tapering portion, and an extension guide projecting downward from the apertured lower end of said conical bottom and said receptacle adjacent the lowest portion 1;)

thereof.-

Signed at New York city, New York, this 30th day of January, 1912.

HORACE E. HENVGOD.

Witnesses F. WARREN "WRIGHT, FRED FRANCIS Weiss.

provided With lateral openings for the passage of the carbid.

M. In an acetylene generator, a Water chamber, a carbid receptacle having a conical bottom terminating in a feed aperture, a feed device controlling said aperture, and means other than the feed aperture for admitting the gas from the water chamber through the bottom of the carbid receptacle into the Copies of thisvpatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. C. 

